September 2016 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

Sat PC32 Vs. AMSAT Predictions
by Ray Hoad 06 Sep '16

06 Sep '16

Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, in answer to a comment made the following reply: " recommend using http://www.amsat.org/tle/current/nasabare.txt This file is updated daily with ISS elements from the Johnson Space Flight Center, so you should be dead on to ISS. It is also the go-to place for new satellites as soon as we get reliable information/identification often before we get information from other sources." This is very good advice and I want to make sure it's not lost is the daily AMSAT-BB dialogue! Note that SatPC32 and probably most of the other tracking programs do not have the above URL listed in the standard choices. I suggest that you add this option to your tracking program either by changing the update choices or even typing in the above URL each time if you have no other option. In SatPC32, you can add the URL to the auxiliary file "Celetrak.SQF" I tried it and it works. Note that you will have to close SatPC32 and reopen it in order to read in the new "Celetrak.SQF" data. Ray Hoad WA5QGD

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[Video] Listening to the ISS with Kids at the Beach! (Indy Children's Museum)
by John Brier 06 Sep '16

06 Sep '16

https://youtu.be/a218pkQr3Oc Help me reach 1,000 YouTube subscribers! https://www.youtube.com/SpaceComms1?sub_confirmation=1 My friend Sammy, KK4TJH, and his kids, joined me to listen to astronaut Kate Rubins onboard the International Space Station talking to The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Indiana on August 23rd, 2016. We listened from Raleigh, North Carolina and I dictated the questions from Nags Head, North Carolina, on the Outer Banks barrier islands of North Carolina. Thanks for watching and 73! John Brier KG4AKV

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SatPC32 Vs. AMSAT Predictions
by R.T.Liddy 06 Sep '16

06 Sep '16

SatPC32 Users, While running WinAOS printouts for my upcoming Grid Expedition, I checked them out versus the AMSAT On-Line Predictions to see if they jibed. Upon comparison, I noticed a variation in AOS/LOS and Azimuths. It isn't all that much, but sometimes I can be OCD when I'm out in the hinterlands and I'm not hearing the Birds when I think I should. The data I give each program are exactly the same. It's more than likely that the two Programs use slightly different formulae to make their calculations and that would account for the differences, but I was just wondering. As long as I'm wondering, I have a basic question. When I update the Keps in PC32, do I choose Satellites nasa.all and Download Keps www.amsat.........../nasa.all? Or, do I choose Satellites amateur.txt and Download Keps www.celestrak.........amateur.txt? Or, can it be a combination of the two, or doesn't it matter? AND, when I run the Program, do I choose Satellites nasa.all or amateur.txt from the Source Files listing? I'm easily confused at my age - HIHI. TNX/73, Bob K8BL

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-09-06 20:00 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 06 Sep '16

06 Sep '16

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-09-06 20:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Lawrence Public Library, Lawrence KS, direct via KCØNFL The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Takuya Onishi KF5LKS Contact is a go for: Fri 2016-09-09 16:25:42 UTC 56 deg C.E.PR. Almadén, Jaén, Spain, direct via EA7URJ or TBD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is Kate Rubins KG5FYJ (***) Contact is a go for: Thu 2016-09-15 08:14:19 UTC 52 deg (***) **************************************************************************** ** Call for Proposals Proposal Window September 1 – November 1, 2016 The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program is seeking formal and informal education institutions and organizations, individually or working together, to host an Amateur Radio contact with a crew member on board the ISS. ARISS anticipates that the contact would be held between July 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017. Crew scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact dates. To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan. The deadline to submit a proposal is November 1, 2016. Proposal information and documents can be found at www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact. ************************************************************ ****************** ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send your reports to aj9n(a)amsat.org or aj9n(a)aol.com. Listen for the ISS on the downlink of 145.8Ø MHz. **************************************************************************** *** All ARISS contacts are made via the Ericsson radio unless otherwise noted. **************************************************************************** *** Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to http://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. **************************************************************************** Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS? If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video. http://www.ariss-eu.org/ If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke(a)sbcglobal.net **************************************************************************** ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Gaston ON4WF with 121 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 121 Francesco IKØWGF with 117 **************************************************************************** The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date webpages were removed and new ones have been added. If there are additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know. Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time. All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8601 date and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2016-09-06 20:00 UTC. (***) Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1081. Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1046. Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 47. A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the file. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: Arkansas, Delaware, South Dakota, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ QSL information may be found at: http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html ISS callsigns: DPØISS, IRØISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RSØISS **************************************************************************** The successful school list has been updated as of 2016-08-24 02:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correction .rtf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 **************************************************************************** Exp. 47 on orbit Jeff Williams KD5TVQ Oleg Skripochka RN3FU Aleksey Ovchinin Exp. 48 on orbit Anatoly Ivanishin Kate Rubins KG5FYJ Takuya Onishi KF5LKS **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

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request for antenna related information
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 06 Sep '16

06 Sep '16

Hi! I received an e-mail from Dino VE7XDT, who used to be active on the satellites from the Vancouver BC area a few years ago. After a few years away from the satellites, he wants to get back on, but needs some assistance. From his e-mail: ********** I am thinking of getting something up for the birds. I have the Icom 9100 with 1,2 GHz module as well and kept all my Yaesu rotors and tracking controls. Unfortunately I had brand new, never installed 2M and 70 CM N2 antennae that I sold few years back.. :( I have the A144-20T and 416-TB but no harnesses or baluns ….. just the antennae. Do you know a good source for that info? Perhaps anyone that has the same set up . I checked Cushcraft but no much there. ********** Please reply to me directly if you have the information on the harnesses and anything else he would need to get those antennas working again. Dino is still in the Vancouver area, still in grid CN89, so maybe we can get a little more activity from that area along with Chris VE7CEW who has been on the satellites lately from there. Dino also mentioned he makes regular trips to Whitehorse in Yukon, grid CP20. He asked if there would be any interest in working that grid. I told him "yes", without waiting to ask a wider audience. :-) Thanks in advance, and 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK

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FS: NIB 16-element Cushcraft 416-TB UHF Boomer $80
by JC Smith 06 Sep '16

06 Sep '16

I hope it's still OK to post stuff for sale in the BB. Please let me know if it is not. I have two of these: New in box, cross-polarized, sixteen element Yagi w/80" boom, 12.5 dBd forward gain. See manual with pictures and complete specs here: http://www.pa3guo.com/cushcraft_416tb_manual.pdf These are satellite antennas but of course have other applications and elements could be trimmed for higher freqs. $80 plus shipping or pick up in Walnut Creek, CA (near Pacificon). Reply to K0HPS(a)AMSAT.ORG

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AMSAT-themed interview on HamRadio360
by Andrew Glasbrenner 06 Sep '16

06 Sep '16

Hi all, I had the honor last week of being interviewed for the most excellent podcast, HamRadio360. Cale let me know this morning that the podcast had been released, and I thought I'd share. It's more of an introduction for those curious about amateur radio satellites, so I'll hope you'll share it with those you know that might be interested. The podcast can be found at: http://hamradio360.com/index.php/2016/09/06/ham-radio-satellite-ops-with-ko… 73, Drew KO4MA

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Mystery Finally Solved--Phlae Lander Located
by B J 05 Sep '16

05 Sep '16

Good news before the mission comes to an end: http://sci.esa.int/rosetta/58220-philae-found/ 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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Seeking Assistance - SatPC32 to HDSDR
by Ken Alexander 04 Sep '16

04 Sep '16

Hi Group, For the past several days I've been trying to get SatPC32 and HDSDR to communicate with each other via VSP Manager. HDSDR is controlling an Airspy. I have followed the instruction in the SatPC Help files. In fact, everything seems relatively straightforward, except neither software knows the other is there and there is no communication. I have received some help from a few people on the @Amsat Twitter group who use this same setup successfully, but still no luck. I'm hoping to get this up and running in time for my grid expedition to EO91 at the end of this month so I do have a few weeks. However, I don't know what else to try. any assistance would be gratefully accepted! 73, Ken Alexander VE3HLS

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FUNcube-1 Mode changes
by Graham Shirville 04 Sep '16

04 Sep '16

Hi All, Just to report that FUNcube-1, AO73, is now back in autonomous operation. The transponder will be active when the spacecraft is in eclipse during the week. We expect that we will continue to maintain having the transponder on continuously at the weekends until further notice. 73 Graham G3VZV

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